The REIACT End-of-Lease Cleaning Checklist (2026 Edition)
Line-by-line REIACT checklist your Canberra agent will actually use during the final inspection — what matters, what they skip, and where renters lose bond money.
Most Canberra renters lose $50–$200 of their bond not because the property is dirty — but because they missed one or two items that the REIACT checklist flags hard. After 400+ bond jobs in the ACT we know exactly which line items agents check first.
Kitchen: the #1 battleground
- Oven — inside, door glass (both sides), racks, trays, thermostat knob
- Range hood filter — removed, degreased, replaced
- Stovetop — burners lifted, drip pans cleaned, element connections
- Splashback — full degrease, check tile grout colour
- Cabinets — every drawer + shelf emptied and wiped inside
- Benchtops — edges, corners, under small appliances if left
- Sink + tap — descaled, polished, drain cleared
Bathrooms
- Shower glass — no soap scum, no water marks visible at eye level
- Grout — black spots treated, not just wiped over
- Exhaust fan cover — removed, dusted inside, replaced
- Toilet base + hinges — back of bowl, both sides of seat hinges
- Vanity drawers — emptied, wiped inside and out
- Mirror — streak-free, including edges
Living areas + bedrooms
- Carpets steam cleaned with professional equipment (receipts kept)
- Skirting boards — dust, scuff marks, pet hair
- Light switches + power outlets — fingerprints gone
- Door frames + architraves — often missed, always checked
- Ceiling fans + light fittings — blades dusted, covers washed
- Windows — inside glass, tracks, sills, flyscreens if fitted
- Walls — scuffs spot-cleaned, not painted over
- Blinds + curtains — dusted slat-by-slat, curtains aired
Outside + extras
- Balcony — swept, glass wiped, railing polished
- Garage — swept, oil spots treated with degreaser
- Outdoor bins — emptied, washed inside
- Lawn + garden — mowed, edged (if in lease)
The 5 most common bond deductions (ACT 2026)
- Oven grease on the glass or element — $80–$150 deduction
- Mould in bathroom silicone — $60–$120 deduction
- Carpet stains under furniture — $40–$180 per stain
- Missed light fittings / fans — $30–$80 per fitting
- Wall scuffs requiring paint touch-up — $100–$250 per wall
If you would rather hand the whole list to someone — we do every one of these on every Canberra bond clean, 72-hour re-clean guaranteed.
Book my bond cleanFrequently asked
Is the REIACT checklist legally required?
No, but most ACT real-estate agents use it as their default. Matching this checklist item-for-item gives you the best chance of a no-deduction bond return.
Do I need to steam clean carpets for an ACT bond return?
If your lease mentions professional carpet cleaning (most do in 2026 Canberra leases), yes — and the agent will usually ask for a receipt from a professional carpet service. We include both the steam clean and a receipt on every bond job.